Coroner’s Office

Timothy D. Rowland, Coroner

The Coroner’s Office is responsible for investigating deaths in Lackawanna County.

Coroner’s Office Info:

Lackawanna County Coroner’s Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-4 PM

Coroner Cases: All accidental deaths, suicide deaths, homicides, all deaths occurring at the hospital within 24 hours of admission, all emergency room deaths, all deaths not within a hospital (except hospice), all deaths where the deceased was not under a doctor’s care.

Autopsies:The Coroner’s Office will make all final decisions if an autopsy will be performed. Final autopsy results will be sent to the Coroner’s Office in approximately 12weeks.

Autopsy reports: Autopsy reports from 1992 until present are on file in the Coroner’s Office, reports prior to 1992 are not on file in this office therefore we would have to contact the office where reports are kept if needed. Next of kin may fax or send requests for a copy of an autopsy to this office, upon receiving the final report we will forward a copy to them, or they may come into the office, sign an autopsy release form and show ID. Private autopsies are non-Coroner autopsies; this office has no record of these cases.

Autopsy Fee: There is a $100 fee for each autopsy report and a $50 fee for each toxicology report. The fees collected shall be accounted for and paid to the County Treasurer pursuant to section 1960 and shall be used to defray the expenses involved in the County complying with the provisions of the act of March 2, 1988 referred to as the Coroner’s Education Board Law.

Cremation: Each death in Lackawanna County that will result in cremation must have permission from the Coroner. It is the responsibility of the funeral director handling the arrangements to contact this office for a CREMATION PERMIT. Cremation Permits will be faxed to either the crematory OR the funeral home once the funeral director has faxed this office all the necessary paperwork. There is a $25.00 fee for each cremation permit, check is to be made out to the Lackawanna County Coroner’s Office.

Certificates: Copies of death certificates are not handled by the Coroner’s Office; inquirers must contact either the funeral home that handled the arrangements or the Bureau of Vital Statistics, 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA. (570)-963-4595. The cost is $9 per copy.

Motor Vehicle Deaths: For every traffic accident that results in death in Lackawanna County a motor vehicle death report is filled out and sent to the PA Department of Transportation.

On Call Schedule: There is a Coroner on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week including holidays for all death calls. Coroner’s can be contacted by calling the office number, after office hour calls will be answered by an answering service. Police and other emergency personnel can also reach the Coroner through the Lackawanna County Communication Center.

Media Calls: All newspaper, radio, news inquiries are to be referred to the Coroner on call. The Coroner will release all necessary information to the media when information becomes available. Coroner’s Office does not have information or conditions on hospitalized victims who may have been involved in cases the office is working on.

Total Cases for 1993: In 1993, Joseph Brennan’s first full year as Lackawanna County Coroner there were 796 cases handled by his office. 378 natural deaths, 59 accident deaths, 18 suicides, eight homicides, five undetermined deaths. This office also handled 238 cremations and there were 96 autopsies performed.

Total Cases for 2003: In 2003 there were 1,476 cases, 673 natural deaths, 114 accidental deaths, 28 suicides, five homicides, five undetermined deaths, and three fetal deaths. This office also handled 648 cremations and there were 119 autopsies performed.

Total Cases for 2008: In 2008 there were 2,070cases, 954 natural deaths, 116 accidental deaths, 37 suicides, 8 homicides and 11 fetal deaths. This office also handled 944 cremations and there were 122 autopsies performed.